Nutritional assessment and anti-diabetic potential of indigenous bitter gourd varieties

Abstract:

Type 2 diabetes affects over 77 million adults in India, and dietary management through functional foods is gaining traction as a first-line preventive measure. Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) has long been used in traditional medicine for blood sugar regulation, but comparative data on the nutritional and anti-diabetic properties of Indian indigenous varieties are sparse. This research evaluated six indigenous bitter gourd varieties collected from Gujarat and Rajasthan for proximate composition, mineral and vitamin content, charantin concentration, and in vitro anti-diabetic activity through α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. MC-84 showed the highest charantin content (3.24 mg/g dry weight) and strongest α-glucosidase inhibition (IC₅₀ = 38.7 µg/mL), followed by Arka Harit. Protein content ranged from 1.67 to 2.43 g/100g fresh weight. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.91) was found between charantin content and α-glucosidase inhibition. MC-84 and Arka Harit are recommended as superior varieties for functional food development targeting diabetic management.